Local Blogs

There's nothing like the first night in Vegas or the opening day of early voting. You can quote me on that. So, turnout looked to be insanely good everywhere in El Paso and around the rest of Texas (AKA -...
Brad Kanus

“APPROVING THE AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF $1.41 PER $100 VALUATION IN THE EL PASO ISD FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, A RATE
THAT IS $0.0647 HIGHER PER $100 VALUATION THAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ROLLBACK TAX RATE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
GENERATING ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT’S COMPENSATION PLAN AS ADOPTED ANNUALLY
INCLUDING THE ONE-TIME EMPLOYEE STIPEND IN 2018-2019, TO EXPAND ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING, AND TO SUPPLEMENT
FUND BALANCE. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT TAX RATE, IF VOTERS APPROVE THE $1.41 TAX RATE, THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES WILL REDUCE THE INTEREST AND SINKING RATE BY $.10, TO REDUCE THE TOTAL TAX RATE TO $1.31, WHICH IS
EQUAL TO THE TAX RATE FROM 2017-2018.”

The problem

Their 2018-19 Official Budget report shows:

Their existing interest and sinking rate (before the election) is $.24. From that they estimate raising $37,913,980. If they lower the rate by ten cents they will raise about $22.1 million.

That leaves them with just enough money to pay the interest on the bonds but none of the principal.

Also according to state law they can raise the interest and sinking fund rate next year without fear of triggering a roll back election.

A record 457,141 El Paso County residents are registered to vote for the Nov. 6 election, according to data from the County Elections Department. That’s up from 427,850 in the 2016 presidential election and 404,580 in 2014, the last midterm election.

El Paso’s voter registration grew by 6.8 percent since 2016, faster than the state’s 4.6 percent growth rate. Preliminary figures from the Secretary of State’s Office show that only 18 of Texas’ 254 counties have had a higher percentage growth of registered voters than El Paso between 2016 and 2018.

The registration growth is driven largely by younger voters and those living on the eastern edges of the city and nearby unincorporated areas, according to preliminary data from the El Paso County Election’s Office.

Several El Paso women’s groups are helping victims of domestic abuse by providing them with resources to resume a healthy, productive lives after leaving abusive relationships, speakers at a recent conference said.

Univision anchor Karina Yapoor was among the speakers at the Wise Latina summit at El Paso Community College to raise awareness about services available to women.

Among the services provided for domestic violence victims are rental assistance, replacement of damaged property, medical bills, counseling, and protective orders from the County Attorney’s Office are available for victims of violent crimes, but shelter is the most need resource, said Jessica Ugarte, a certified crime victim compensation services provider.

“They’re used to receiving financial support from their abuser, so when they leave they’re not sure where they can go or how can they support themselves,” Ugarte said during the annual summit called “Enough is Enough. Ya Basta” on Oct. 6 at the El Paso Community College.

Abuse “was just something that was accepted and women dealt with. No one in my family has had to use this, everyone just kind of dealt with it, but now, I think it’s awesome that we’re breaking that norm and moving forward,” said Stacy Arrieta, a case manager at El Paso First Health Plans.

“I didn’t even realize how many groups are available for people in domestic violence,” Arrieta said.

Ugarte and other speakers addressed about 150 people at the annual summit with the goal of improving awareness and empowering women to deal with sexual harassment, assault and domestic violence. The organization serves women in El Paso, Las Cruces and Ciudad Juarez.

Liz Chavez, president and founder of Wise Latina International, welcomes participants with a speech at the 2018 summit “Enough is Enough! Ya Basta!” at El Paso Community College.

Speakers and attendees noted the irony of hosting their event on the same day the Senate voted to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Kavanaugh was accused by more than one woman of drunken behavior and attempted sexual assault.

Among the accusers was Christine Blasey Ford, a Palo Alto University professor, who said Kavanaugh tried to sexually assault her while they were teens in Bethesda, Md. Kavanaugh denied the accusation.

“The fact that the (Ford) story was kind of brushed aside and not given the attention that was necessary was a slap in the face for so many women,” said Liz Chavez president and founder of Wise Latina International.

“We know that we’re in a very critical time in our society and we need to be able to raise awareness, educate, and empower our women to deal with sexual harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence,” Chavez said.

“I really believe that we have to make our voice count now than ever,” Chavez said. “Its really important that not only we register to vote, but show up and vote whether it is at the local level, whether it is at the state level, whether it is at the national level.”